Southwest Airlines considers selling fewer seats to allow for social distancing
Southwest Airlines is evaluating ways to maintain the health and safety of passengers and staff onboard its planes and at airports, including looking at ways to maintain social distancing in the sky.
One idea that the Dallas-based carrier is considering is purposely not selling all of the seats on any given flight in order to allow people to keep their distance onboard, Southwest CEO Gary Kelly said during a quarterly earnings call on Tuesday. Such a move could be coupled with improved cleaning practices and face masks to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.
"We are thinking that perhaps we won’t take bookings that will fill up an airplane," he said. "It would be some [number] less than that... That would be a logical way to address social distancing on an airplane."
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Kelly's comments come amid concerns of how people will fly as the U.S. economy begins to reopen. While Americans have been encouraged to stay socially distant from others, this is difficult to maintain in an aircraft cabin and especially when a flight is full.
Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Spirit Airlines and United Airlines are blocking at least some middle seats on flights. American is going a step further and will begin offering travelers complimentary masks when they board, while JetBlue Airways is mandating that all passengers where masks on flights.
But these are seen an interim measures, easily accomplished when flights are frequently flying with far fewer than half of seats filled. Delta and Southwest are both looking at longer-term measures to protect passengers and crew and allay any misgivings about the safety of flying.
Related: Delta CEO raises prospect of ‘immunity passports’ for air travel
Delta CEO Ed Bastian mentioned the possibility of "immunity passports" during the carrier's earnings call on April 22. Such a document would be used to prove a passenger's health status before a flight.
Southwest too is looking at how to keep people safe and assuage fears. If the airline moved forward with the idea of temporarily keeping some seats open on flights, it would only do so in its reservations system. Kelly said the airline would not make physical changes onboard, such as removing seats or blocking middle seats. The airline's long-standing open seating policy would remain.
Artificially reducing seating capacity on flights, while necessary for social distancing, could have negative financial implications. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) director general Alexandre de Juniac has warned that if airlines are forced to block middle seats they may have to raise ticket prices or face financial losses on top of those already inflicted by the pandemic.
"Either you fly at the same [ticket] price and lose enormous amounts of money...or you increase the ticket price by 50% and you are able to fly with minimal profit," he said on April 21. "If social distancing is imposed cheap travel is over. Voila."
Related: The hidden costs of saying goodbye to the middle seat
Kelly did not comment on what reducing capacity on flights would mean for fares or Southwest's finances. However, he did emphasize that low costs will be key to weathering the crisis.
On Tuesday, Southwest reported a pre-tax loss of $144 million during the three months ending in March. The loss, while smaller than those at Delta and United, was its first negative pre-tax number in since 2009.
The airline is already implementing some changes aimed at keeping both its passengers and employees healthy. In addition to improved onboard cleaning procedures, it is installing plexiglass shields at ticket counters and gates to minimize the spread of the virus, said Southwest operations chief Michael Van de Ven during the call.
A decision on any possible onboard social distancing plan, and other health and safety improvements, will be made in the next 30 days, he said.
“The highest priority is to… implement whatever additional procedures are needed to minimize the spread of the virus," said Van de Ven.
Related: Southwest Airlines CEO ‘fights’ to avoid furloughs, layoffs after coronavirus
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.